Its once-tiny corpse flower is now a strapping plant, reaching several feet high, and it's about to bloom for the very first time.

Overbeck said they've had Putricia for 18 years now and they've watched it grow from "just a little seedling" into the 4.5 foot tall plant that it is today.

Credit Courtesy of Wendy Overbeck

Wendy Overbeck, senior horticultural manager at Frederik Meijer Gardens, joined Stateside to tell us about the corpse flower and its 18-year history in the garden. Staff have named the plant Putricia.

Listen above to hear what to expect when a corpse flower opens up, why it gives off such a putrid fragrance, and when might be the best time this week to get a rare peek (and whiff) of a corpse flower in bloom.

This post was updated Friday, July 13, with new photos of the corpse flower in bloom.

Related Content

Scientists have known for a while that America’s bee population is in trouble — some types are even ending up on the endangered species list. Pollinator insects like bees are crucial to food production, and, in agricultural states like Michigan, keeping that population alive and healthy is a big deal.

A small but colorful pilot project at the Michigan Department of Transportation aims to provide some late season meals for those hard-working bees.